Method and apparatus for affixing the mouthpiece or tip on cigarettes



Jan. 16, 1962 R. CREUZBURG 3,01

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AFFIXING THE MOUTHPIECE OR TIP ON CIGARETTES Filed Oct. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

.lffarneys- Jan. 16, 1962 R. CREUZBURG 3,016,905

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AFFIXING THE MOUTHPIECE OR TIP ON CIGARETTES Filed Oct. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ric]; carol CrzzzzZwzzZ ATTORNEYS United States Patent i 3,016,905 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AFFEXING THE MGUTHPIECE 0R Till 0N CIGARETTES Richard Crenzhurg, Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany, as-

signor to Kurt Korber & Co., K.G., Hamburgdierge dorf, Germany Filed Get. 7, 1955, Ser. No. 539,243 Claims priority, application Germany Get. 13, 1954 7 Claims. (Cl. 131-94) The present invention relates to improvements in a method and apparatus for aflixing the mouthpiece or tip on cigarettes by applying the foil wrapper thereto.

One object of the invention is to provide a combined carrier and rotating device for cigarettes and mouthpiece filters so that the same will be rotated in unison during the application of the mouthpiece wrapper which is usually of comparatively thin foil or cork sheeting.

Another object is to provide a mechanism which is adapted to rotate the cigarettes and mouthpiece filters while the tips are being applied in such a manner that the cigarettes and filters are engaged at three points at least by rotataing surfaces which impart rotary motion to the cigarettes and filters at equidistant circumferentially spaced points.

Another object is to provide a mechanism which will hold the cigarettes and filter tips in correctly alined relationship and simultaneously rotate the cigarettes and filters thus alined in unison such that when they approach the tip applicator mechanism, they will pick up the adhesively coated tip being fed in sheet form and will draw the same around the alined cigarettes and filters to form a completed unit which is later divided centrally of its length to form two filter tip cigarettes of uniform dimensions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for applying the wrapper or foil to alined cigarette and filter units in which the cigarettes and filter units are rotated during their feeding motion toward and away from the mouthpiece tip applying means with very little friction and without causing damage or markings to the cigarettes and filter units.

Hitherto, the connecting bands around the abutting ends of cigarettes and filter units have been applied by placing them on a rotary drum provided with axially extending grooves on its periphery having a revolving surface tangential to the drum. 'One of the revolving surfaces is usually provided inside of the drum, while the other revolving surface generally includes an endless band extending around the circumference of the drum. The present invention includes a combined carrier and rotating means in which the cigarettes are fed between a series of circumferentially arranged equidistantly disposed rotating rods. Guide means for causing the cigarettes to travel a circuitous pathway is provided which includes an inner drum which may rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of cigarette and filter travel and encircling guide members extending partially about the drum from the point of supply or feed to the discharge point or location. This structure overcomes the disadvantages of the older prior art devices in that it eliminates friction and permits the cigarettes and filter units to rotate in unison at the same speed, thus preventing the thin foil wrapper or the like from becoming slightly twisted and unevenly applied.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical. transverse cross sectional view showing the manner in which the cigarettes alined with filter units are fed and rotated be- "ice tween a series of circumferentially spaced bars or rods as they approach the cigarette tip or band applicator.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken at right angles to FIGURE 1, and showing the manner in which the cigarettes are alined with filter units and maintained in position while at the same time being rotated to receive the adhesive coated wrapper band or filter tip, and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of a modified form of the invention showing an endless driven band used in conjunction with the rotating rod such as to rotate the cigarettes and filter units at four equidistant circumferential contact points.

In the drawing, and more in detail, there is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 a preferred embodiment of the invention including a machine frame generally designated 5 which includes a base portion 6 having an upright 7 for supporting one end of the mechanism. The other end of the machine frame (not shown) is provided with a suitable bearing for supporting a shaft 8. Mounted on the shaft 8' is the hub 9 of a roller 10 having oppositely disposed rim portions 12 integrated therewith. The roller 10 may rotate freely with respect to the shaft 8 and is adapted to be driven in the direction of the arrow 3a) or held by being keyed or locked to the frame 5 in a fixed position as shown in FIGURE 2.

Rotatably mounted on each end of the hub 9 of the roller 10 is a drum including a pair of radial walls 15 (FIGURE 2) arranged one at each end of the roller 10. The radial walls are provided with .hub portions 16 which are rotatably mounted on the hub portions 9 of the roller 10. Thus the walls 15 of the roller can rotate independently of the roller 10 in the direction of the arrow 13 and the radial walls 15 can be rotated while the roller 10 is held in a fixed position.

Rotatably supported by the peripheral portions of the radial walls 15 is a series of circumferentially spaced elongated rollers 18 which have reduced end portions 19 (FIGURE 2) received in suitable bearing openings in the radial walls 15 and provided with relatively small gear wheels 20.

Rotatably supported on the radial walls 15 is a series of circumferentially spaced gear wheels 21 which drivingly engage the gear wheels 20 and are arranged so that one gear wheel 21 drivingly engages a pair of said gear wheels 20 as indicated in FIGURE 1.

The gear wheels 21 rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows 22 (FIGURE 1), such that adjacent pairs or sets of rotary rods 18 will be rotated in a direction to cause the cigarettes to rotate in a direction indicated by the arrows 23 (FIGURE 1). Mounted on the hub 9 of the roller 10 is the hub portion 25 of a gear Wheel having spokes or the like 26 provided with a rim portion 27 of angular cross-section and having a series of gear teeth 28 for drivingly engaging corresponding gear teeth on the gear wheels 21. Thus, the gear wheel 26 when held in a fixed position with the radial walls 15 driven by means of the gear wheel engaging the peripheral edge thereof (not shown) in the direction of the arrow 30 will rotate the rods 18 in proper ratio such that the cigarettes will be rotated by the rods 18 as well as by contact with the rim 12 of the roller 10.

The radial walls 15 can be driven by suitable gearing (not shown) connected to an electric motor or the like and the drum can be rotated in the direction of the arrows 13 FIGURE 1 by means of an electric motor.

Alined cigarettes 31 and filter units 32- are fed between the rotary rods 18 as usual from a magazine or the like as shown in the Kurt Korber patent No. 2,740,409 issued April 3, 1956 presented to the periphery of the roller III at a point above the axis 8. The alined cigarettes and filter units are held in position by means of circular guide plates 34 and 35 which encircle the roller in spaced relation from the periphery of the rim 12 and have their ends spaced as shown in FIGURE 1. Thus, groups of cigarettes and filter units may be fed between the rim 12 and guide 34 between adjacent pairs of rotary rods 18, and as the rotating cigarettes and filter units approach the lower portion of the rim 12 at a point where the guide plates 34 and 35 are interrupted, a thin mouthpiece strip 36 is applied and said mouthpiece strip is fed to a roller 37 from a magazine or the like as shown in the Kurt Korber patent No. 2,740,409 issued April 3, 1956 and is picked up on an enlarged portion 38 forming a peripheral projection. The peripheral projection is provided with a series of openings 39 such that when the pressure in the hollow cylinder 37 is reduced the thin mouthpiece tip bands 36 will adhere to the roller due to the difference in pressure. A suction roll for applying mouthpiece wrappers is shown in U.S. Patent 2,165,144 issued July 4, 1939. The thin mouthpiece band 36 may be formed of strips of foil, cork or other material having an adhesive applied to the outermost face. Thus, when the adhesively coated band contacts the cigarettes alined with the filter unit it overlaps the joint therebetween and adheres thereto in such a manner as to be wrapped around the alined cigarettes and filter units. After the band has thus been applied, the connected alined cigarettes and filter mouthpieces are discharged into a suitable receptacle (not shown) through a discharge opening in the arcuately curved guideplate 34. Suitable means (not shown) is provided for rotating the hollow drum 37 and controlling the reduction in pressure such that as the band 36 approaches the cigarettes and alined filter units the pressure will be increased within the hollow drum 37 and thus permit the strip or band 36 to easily transfer from the enlarged peripheral portion 38 of the drum and be wrapped around the alined cigarettes and filter units.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIG- URE 3, the rotating rods 18' are mounted on the radial walls shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 as before, and the alined cigarettes and filter mouthpieces are fed between the rim of the roller and guide plates 34' and as before. In the modification, the guide plate 34' terminates a distance from the hollow roller 37', and this space is bridged by an endless conveyor 51' mounted on suitable rollers 52' driven in any approved manner by applying rotary motion to one of the shafts 53'. The distance between the end of the endless belt 51' and the tangential portion of the hollow roller 37 is bridged by means of a triangular member 54 held in place by a suitable fastener 55' secured to the frame of the machine (not shown). Thus, the alined cigarettes and filter units 31' are fed be tween the rim of the roller as before and the endless belt 51' such that rotary motion is applied at four equidistantly spaced circumferential points of the cigarette and filter unit. This arrangement is helpful in feeding cigarettes and filter units in which the cigarettes have thin paper coverings which are easily wrinkled and distorted. The mouthpiece bands 36 are supplied to the hollow roller 37 and are held in place temporarily by reducing the pressure in the hollow roller 37 and the radial apertures 39. After the band or wraper 36 has been applied and wrapped around the filter unit as well as the adjacent inner ends of the cigarette, the connected units are discharged from the end of the arcuate guide plate 35' and are collected in a container or the like for being fed to a severing machine which cuts the assembled cigarettes and filter unit in half to form a pair of filter tip cigarettes of equal uniform dimensions.

It is to be understood that any approved feed means may be used for feeding the cigarettes and filter units in alined groups such as shown in the Kurt Korber U.S. Patent No. 2,740,409 issued April 3, 1956, and similarly, any approved means may be employed for rotating the drum walls 15 in the direction indicated by the arrows 13, such that the rods 18will rotate about their own axis and about the axis of the shaft 8. Suitable gearing may be used between the drum walls 15 to cause the rolls 18 to rotate at the proper speed and rotate the cigarettes at the same speed that the rim 12 engaging the cigarettes travels.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred embodiments of the invention, and that variouschanges in the shape, size and arrangement of parts will be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for applying filter tip bands to cigarettes with their inner ends abutting a filter unit comprising a roller mounted on a fixed axis having a peripheral surface around which said cigarettes and filter units are adapted to roll, a series of rods mounted in circumferentially spaced relation with respect to said roller axis, supporting means for said rods rotatable about the same axis as the roller, a series of circumferentially spaced gear wheels on said supporting means arranged to drivingly engage spaced apart sets of said rods, guide means for holding cigarettes and filter units between said rods, means for rotating said circumferentially spaced gear wheels, and means for applying filter bands to the filter units and inner ends of said cigarettes.

2. In an apparatus for applying filter tip bands to assembled cigarettes and filter units, comprising a roller mounted on a fixed axis having a peripheral surface around which said cigarettes and filter units are adapted to roll, a pair of side plates rotatable about the axis of said roller, a plurality of circumferentially spaced rods rotatably supported by said side plates, guide members spaced from said roller for receiving cigarettes therebetween so that they will be spaced by said rotary rods, means for rotating said rods about their own axis and about the axis of said fixed roller in a direction to cause said cigarettes to rotate counterclockwise, and means for feeding filter tip bands to the cigarettes so that said rotating cigarettes will pick up said band and cause the same to wrap around the filter unit and adjacent inner ends of the cigarettes.

3. In an apparatus for applying filter tip bands to assembled cigarettes and filter units, a machine frame, a roller supported by said frame on a fixed axis and having a peripheral surface around which said cigarettes and filter units are adapted to rotate and roll, a series of rods arranged in circumferentially spaced relation disposed about the axis of said roller to travel circumferentially thereabout, shaft means for supporting said rods, means for rotating said rods about their own axis including circumferentially spaced gear wheels on said support means with each gear wheel arranged to drive spaced apart pairs of said rods, guide means for holding cigarettes between said spaced rods in driving contact with said peripheral surface of said roller and said rods so that said rods will rotate the cigarettes and filter units at a uniform sped, and means for feeding filter tip bands to the filter units so that the bands will be wrapped around the inner ends of the cigarettes and the filter unit during rotation thereof.

4. In an apparatus for applying filter tip bands to assembled cigarettes and filter units, a machine frame having a supporting shaft, a roller mounted on said shaft, a pair of supporting discs arranged one on each side of said roller, a series of circumferentially spaced rods having their ends journaled in said discs and arranged about the periphery of said roller slightly spaced therefrom, means for rotating said discs about the axis of said supporting shaft, means for rotating said rods about their own axis in driving engagement with said roller, guide means extending about said rods and roller to retain cigarettes between said rods with the rods in driving contact at diametral points, and means for feeding filter tip bands to the cigarettes and filter units so that said bands will wrap around the rotating filter units and cigarettes and thereby connect the same for subsequent division and the forming of two equal filter tip cigarettes.

5. In an apparatus for applying filter tip bands to assembled cigarettes and filter units, a machine frame, a shaft supported by said frame, a roller mounted on said shaft, a pair of rotary discs arranged one at each end of said roller, a series of equidistantly spaced circumferentially arranged rods with their ends journaled in bearing openings in said discs and disposed about said roller in slightly spaced relation therefrom, each of said guide rods being adapted to be rotated about its own axis arranged in a common circumference, guide means extending around said roller and rods to retain filter units and cigarettes in end to end alinement with the rods in driving contact therewith at diametral points, gear means for rotating said rods, means for rotatably supporting said discs so that the rods will travel about a circuitous path around the same axis as said roller, and means for feeding mouthpiece bands to the filter units and adjacent ends of the cigarettes during their rotation 50 that said band will be wrapped therearound.

6. In an apparatus for applying filter tip bands to assembled cigarettes and filter units, a machine frame, a horizontal shaft on said frame, a roller mounted on said shaft, a pair of discs arranged to rotate one on each side of said roller, a series of equidistantly spaced circumferentially arranged rods about said roller in slightly spaced relation therefrom with their ends journaled in bearing openings in said discs, said guide rods being arranged to rotate about their own axis in a common circumference, guide means for holding cigarettes against said roller and between said rods with the rods in driving contact at diametral points of said filter units and cigarettes, a drum mounted below said roller adapted to feed filter bands to said cigarettes as they reach the lower portion of the drum, and gear means for rotating said rods in a direction such that the filter wrapper band will be wrapped around the filter units and adjacent inner ends of the cigarettes.

7. In an apparatus for applying filter tip bands to assembled cigarettes and filter units, a machine frame, a roller rotatably supported by said machine frame, a pair of discs arranged one on each side of said roller, a series of equidistantly spaced circumferentially arranged rods in slightly spaced relation from said roller and journaled with their ends in said discs, means for rotating said roller in a counter-clockwise direction, gear means for rotating said discs in a clockwise direction, guide means extending about said roller to hold cigarettes in driving contact therewith and between said rods, an endless flexible belt forming a portion of said guide means and having driving contact with certain of the cigarettes between said rods, means for rotating said rods at directions corresponding to the direction of rotation and travel imparted to said endless belt so that the cigarettes will be in driven contact with the rods at diametral points, and a rotary drum having an enlarged peripheral portion provided with openings so that reduced pressure within the drum will cause a cigarette filter tip band to be applied to the lowermost cigarettes and filter unit during its rotation and thus become wrapped about the filter unit and adjacent inner ends of said cigarettes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,999,911 May Apr. 30, 1935 2,002,886 Edwards May 28, 1935 2,165,144 Lubbock July 4, 1939 2,166,486 Edwards July 18, 1939 2,188,998 Edwards Feb. 6, 1940 2,740,409 Korber Apr. 3, 1956 2,802,470 Treble Aug. 13, 1957 2,809,640 Oldenkamp Oct. 15, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 392,266 Great Britain May 18, 1933 

